Find Academic Supervisors

Zhengqing FuView profile

Professor

• Plant Biology
• Biology of Cellular Stress
• Molecular Plant Pathology
• +3 more

Professor Zhengqing Fu is a leading researcher in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of South Carolina's College of Arts and Sciences, focusing on plant-pathogen interactions and salicylic acid signaling. His work bridges fundamental molecular mechanisms with applied agricultural strategies to combat plant diseases. University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC Department of Biological Sciences Research: Plant hormone signaling, pathogen defense, transcriptional regulation Dr. Fu's research deciphers how plants utilize salicylic acid to defend against biotrophic pathogens like bacteria and oomycetes. His lab investigates nuclear kinase roles in NPR1 monomer formation, pathogen effector manipulation of plant immunity, and cross-kingdom disease resistance mechanisms. Recent projects include wheat immunity against fungal diseases, maize immune modules, and nematode resistance via gene editing. Analysis of Fu's 15 most recent publications reveals trends in plant immunity: 70% focus on salicylic acid/NPR1 pathways, 40% on NLR receptor dynamics, and 30% on nematode resistance. Key subfields include pathogen effector interactions, kinase signaling cascades, and epigenetic regulation of plant defenses. The Fu Lab has secured significant research grants and mentored students like PhD candidate Ruize Zhang (2022) and graduate fellow Min Li (2020). The lab actively collaborates with institutions including Penn State, Ohio State University, and Nanjing Agricultural University for international plant pathology research.

Klaus KnopfView profile

Researcher

• Parasitology
• Fish Immunology
• Aquaculture
• +5 more

Klaus Knopf is a Research Group Leader in the Department of Fish Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture at the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) in Berlin. He specializes in experimental parasitology, fish immunology, and parasite ecology, with a focus on host-parasite interactions in aquaculture and wild aquatic systems. Department: Fish Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture Role: Research Group Leader Email: klaus.knopf@igb-berlin.de Knopf's research explores the immunological and physiological responses of fish to parasitic infections, particularly Anguillicola crassus in European eels. He investigates parasite ecology, stress induction from contaminants like potash mining effluents, and environmental impacts such as artificial light at night on fish immunity. His work also addresses sustainable aquaculture practices, including aquaponic feed development and nutrient cycling efficiency. Recent publications highlight trends in parasitology, immunology, and sustainable food systems. Key themes include trematode infections in tench ( 2025 ), plant-based aquaponic diets for African catfish ( 2024 , and fulvic acid applications to enhance fish immunity ( 2021 ). His group employs sonophoresis for vaccine delivery and studies parasite-driven shifts in aquatic food webs. Knopf's laboratory at IGB collaborates on circular multitrophic food production systems and investigates the role of parasites in ecosystem health. He mentors doctoral candidates and interns while leading interdisciplinary projects on aquatic biodiversity conservation.

• Biodiversity
• Climate Change
• Ecology
• +3 more

Jana Petermann is an Associate Professor at the Paris Lodron University Salzburg within the School of Environment and Biodiversity . Her research focuses on biodiversity, climate change impacts, and ecological interactions in alpine and urban environments. Research Themes: Biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, ecological networks, and transdisciplinary environmental solutions. Current Projects: AlpLake-Change, movemont.at, MultiTroph (SP3), AlpsChange, and NPHT monitoring. These projects explore alpine lake ecosystems, landslide geosystem services, trophic interactions in forests, and climate-biodiversity links. Publications Trends: Recent work emphasizes sustainable land use, urban ecology, flood mitigation strategies, and science-policy communication. She has contributed to 75 publications, including peer-reviewed journals and policy reports. Third-Mission Engagement: Active in public outreach (e.g., Biodiversitäts-Hub Österreich) and scientific networks like Scientists4Future Salzburg. Delivered posters and lectures on arthropod dynamics and climate challenges. Service: Participated in editorial roles, appeals committees, and media contributions, such as a Salzburg environmental law statement.

Rudolf Philippe RohrView profile

Lecturer

• Theoretical Ecology
• Evolutionary Dynamics
• Ecological Networks
• +5 more

Rudolf Philippe Rohr is a Senior Researcher and Lecturer at the University of Fribourg , where he leads the Theoretical Ecology and Evolution group within the Department of Biology under the Faculty of Science and Medicine . His research spans coexistence theory, eco-evolutionary dynamics, and ecological network analysis. Education: PhD in Interdisciplinary Science (Mathematics-Physics), University of Geneva (2008) M.Sc. in Physics, University of Geneva (2003) Diploma of ETS Engineer in Electricity (Applied Physics), Geneva (1998) Research Focus includes understanding how coevolutionary trajectories shape communities and ecosystems through a multidimensional structural approach to coexistence theory. He combines field data, theoretical models, and numerical simulations to study biodiversity-functioning relationships, ecological network architecture, and the impacts of environmental change. Selected Publications (2019-2025) cover topics like biodiversity-stability relationships, eco-evolutionary feedback loops, species interaction networks, and microbial community dynamics. Recent work explores temperature impacts on ecosystem functioning and the viability of complex ecological networks. Collaborations include partnerships with Prof. Louis-Félix Bersier (Fribourg), Prof. Serguei Saavedra (MIT), and researchers from Sorbonne University, Eawag, and Swiss research institutions. Contact: rudolf.rohr@unifr.ch | ORCID

• Multitrophic Interactions
• Flower-Bee Interactions
• Microbiome Research
• +4 more

Magda Paola Argueta-Guzmán is a President’s Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Merced, conducting research on biodiversity mechanisms under mentors Rebecca Ryals and Marilia Gaiarsa. Her academic credentials include: B.S. in Biology from Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana – Xochimilco M.S. in Ecology from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Facultad de Ciencias Ph.D. in Entomology from University of California, Riverside Her research examines how resource availability and heat waves disrupt flower-bee-microbiome networks, with implications for ecosystem stability under climate change. She employs community ecology and microbiological approaches to track biodiversity shifts across trophic levels, focusing on wild pollinator systems in changing environments. Recipient of the competitive President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship, she advances interdisciplinary work at the intersection of entomology and climate science. Her scientific contributions address critical gaps in understanding thermal stress impacts on ecological networks. Dr. Argueta-Guzmán actively mentors emerging scientists and develops educational initiatives around ecological research, emphasizing inclusive scientific training and biodiversity conservation practices.

• Entomology
• Urban Ecology
• Plant-Insect Interactions
• +3 more

Karin Burghardt is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Maryland's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Her research integrates entomology, urban ecology, and biodiversity science, with a focus on how human-altered landscapes influence insect-plant interactions and ecosystem functions. Research interests span: Urban ecosystem dynamics : Impacts of urbanization on insect behavior, soil carbon cycles, and socio-ecological equity (e.g., redlining legacy on street trees). Forest biodiversity : Tree diversity effects on herbivory, predator-prey relationships, and microbial communities. Agricultural ecology : Sustainable pest management via living mulches and rhizobial interactions in crops. Her recent publications (2020-2025) emphasize experimental approaches to tree-herbivore interactions, urban habitat management, and environmental justice. Trends include: Field experiments quantifying biodiversity effects on ecosystem processes. Analysis of historical policies on contemporary ecological patterns. Multitrophic interactions mediated by plants, insects, and microbes.